How to Cut Wine Corks in Half

Wine corks are a dilemma for crafters and recyclers alike. It seems wasteful to throw them away, but their shape is so definite that it's hard to know what else to do with them. Wine cork crafts have been around since the 1950s, but they have enjoyed a recent surge in popularity fueled by people interested in reducing waste and reusing everyday things. It's tricky to cut wine corks in half, but not impossible, and halving their shape doubles their potential. The key to cutting wine corks is patience, steady hands and a very sharp blade.

Things You'll Need

Measuring tape

Natural wine corks

Marker

Protective gloves

Serrated knife

Box cutter or craft knife

Hand saw

Dremel cutting tool (or similar)

Electric carving knife

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Step 1

Measure along the length of the cork, or across one end, depending on whether you are cutting your cork lengthwise or crosswise. You can eyeball it in most cases, but for a coaster or trivet you want the surface as even as you can get it.

Step 2

Mark the half-way point with your marker. Put on protective gloves to prepare for cutting.

Step 3

Cut the cork in half with a serrated knife, box cutter, hand saw or Dremel. There is no one way that works best; try as many as you can until you find the one that works for you.

Tips & Warnings

Sand the cut edge of your cork to make it fit more neatly when gluing it to things.

Synthetic corks are too slippery to cut with a craft knife; you could lose control of the blade and hurt yourself. Instead, use a power cutting tool or small hand saw for this kind of cork.